.jpg)
It's no secret that Xbox LIVE Indie Arcade is full of crap that most self respecting gamers won't touch with a ten foot pole. Because of that, the unfortunate truth is that amazing games like Crossfire often get overlooked. Simple text games and crappy graphics that are most times hand drawn (with poor artistic value) give way every now and then to gems like this one that radiangames has produced.
Crossfire takes the old-school formula of Space Invaders, tosses out the dull visuals, adds some kick-ass music (which is currently FREE to download) and a taste of Geometry Wars, creating one of the greatest shooters on the next-gen consoles to date. Actually, hands down, Crossfire is the best arcade shooter of 2010.
Though there is no real story behind Crossfire, your initial mission starts with a brief description of an alien attack that failed in the past and now they're back to give it another go. Don't worry though, you've apparently destroyed them before, and you'll be well equipped to do it again. But you're not alone in the fight, if you're not the last starfighter in your household you'll be able to co-op your way through all 50 levels in both regular and turbo modes. Can I beg for Xbox LIVE support now? The awesomeness that is Crossfire co-op can only be played via one Xbox and two controllers. I would kill for an update that allows players to get together online.
For the expert shooters out there, the fact that you can continue an unlimited amount of times on your current level might seem amateur. But trust me, there are some tough levels as you near your final encounter. If you're good enough to make it through all 50 regular waves, you'll unlock a turbo mode. Everything in turbo mode runs 1.5 to 2 times faster than normal, and you'll really start to notice once the enemies start thinning out. The less enemies left on the battlefield, the faster they'll be zipping through space.
If you're truly an expert, and able to blast through all 50 turbo levels, you'll unlock the Megawave. This is where the boys will be separated from the men. 20 brand new waves will stand in your way from victory, with only three lives to complete them. There will no longer be a break between waves, meaning you'll have to be prepared for lasers and energy balls to hit the second enemy ships arrive. If you lose all three ships that you've been supplied with, you'll be forced to start from wave 1. It won't take you long to unlock the Megawave, but once you do, you'll see the real challenge that Crossfire offers.
The only complaint I have is the lack of leaderboards. I'm sure this can be added in the future rather easily, but it would be nice to see how you stack up against the rest of Xbox LIVE, or at least your friends. This is forgivable, but it would be a nice addition to a great game that could make it much more competitive.
For a mere 240 Microsoft points, any shooter fan would be a fool to pass on this deal. Head over to the Xbox Marketplace and grab this one today.
Comments